Insulated double walled drinking vessel and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

An insulated drinking vessel, e.g., a wine glass, and a method of making the same is disclosed. The vessel basically comprises a pre-molded outer vessel formed of a plastic material having a sidewall, a pre-molded ring formed of a plastic material, and an inner vessel having a sidewall. The ring includes a bottom end at which the vestige of a molding gate may be located. The inner vessel is formed of a plastic material molded in-situ on the bottom end of the ring to cause portions of the ring&#39;s plastic to melt and intermingle with the plastic material of the inner vessel to form a subassembly including a non-superficial homogenous joint between the ring and the inner vessel. The sidewall of the inner vessel of the subassembly is disposed within the sidewall of the outer vessel and the ring is welded to a top portion of the outer vessel to form the rim or lip of the insulated drinking vessel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.14/694,363, filed on Apr. 23, 2015 entitled Insulated Doubled WalledDrinking Vessel And Method Of Making The Same, which in turn claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/987,147 filed on May1, 2014 entitled Insulated Doubled Walled Drinking Vessel And Method OfMaking The Same. The entire disclosures of both such applications areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to drinking vessels and moreparticularly to insulated drinking vessels having a thin rim and methodsof making the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Double walled insulated drinking vessels are commercially available fromvarious vendors. There are also numerous U.S. Patents and publishedpatent applications directed to doubled walled insulated drinkingvessels, such as glasses, mugs, goblets, wine glasses and the like. Seefor example, U.S. Patents and published applications: U.S. Pat. No.4,872,569 (Bolte); U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,213 (Glassman); U.S. Pat. No.5,553,735 (Kimura); U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,599 (Lin); U.S. Pat. No.6,050,443 (Tung et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,892 (Volan); U.S. Pat. No.6,419,108 (Toida et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,179 (Ghanem); U.S. Pat.No. 7,306,113 (El-Saden et al.); D519,785 (Bodum); D526,848 (Bodum);D557,561 (Flowers et al.); 2004/0212120 (Giraud); 2005/0045643 (Ghanem);2005/0173365 (McKnight); and 2005/0194340 (Huang).

While the insulated drinking vessels of the foregoing prior art may begenerally suitable for their intended purposes, a need exists fordrinking vessel which has a thin, but relatively long, drinking lip. Thesubject invention addresses that need by providing an insulated drinkingvessel and method of making it. The drinking vessel is formed of aninner vessel, and outer vessel and a ring. The ring is pre-molded andhas a bottom edge portion. The outer vessel is also pre-molded and has atop edge portion. The inner vessel is molded in-situ on the bottom endof the ring to form a non-superficial homogenous aesthetically pleasingjoint therebetween. The top edge portion of the pre-molded outer vesselis fixedly secured to the bottom edge portion of the ring at a weldjoint to complete the insulated drinking vessel and form an insulatingspace between the pre-molded vessel and the in-situ molded vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention an insulated drinkingvessel is provided. The insulated drinking vessel comprises an innervessel, an outer vessel, and a ring. The inner vessel, the outer vesseland the ring each comprise a plastic material. The outer vessel and thering are each a pre-molded component. The inner vessel has a top edgeportion. The outer vessel has a top edge portion. The ring comprises abottom edge portion which may include a vestige of a molding gate usedto form the ring. The inner vessel is molded in-situ on the bottom edgeportion of the pre-molded ring cause the plastic material thereof tofuse together and intermingle with the plastic material of the ring toform a non-superficial homogenous joint eliminating the visibleappearance of the vestige. The top edge portion of the outer vessel isfixedly secured to the bottom edge portion of the ring at a weld joint.The ring forms the lip of the drinking vessel.

In accordance with one preferred aspect of this invention the weld jointcomprises an annular projection located within an annular recess.

In accordance with one preferred aspect of this invention the ring isthin and relatively long, and may be optionally colored, while the innerand outer vessels are transparent. A decorative item may be locatedwithin the insulating air space.

Another aspect of this invention constitutes a method of making aninsulated double walled drinking vessel comprising an inner vessel, anouter vessel and a ring. The method basically entails providing an outervessel pre-molded of a plastic material and having a top edge portion. Aring pre-molded of a plastic material and having a bottom edge portionis also provided. The inner vessel is molded of a plastic materialin-situ on the bottom edge portion of the ring to cause the plasticmaterial thereof to fuse together and intermingle with the plasticmaterial of the ring to form a non-superficial homogenous joint at abottom edge portion of the ring.

If the ring includes any vestige of a gate used to mold the ring, thehomogeneous joint resulting from the in-situ molding of the inner vesselon the ring eliminates the visible appearance of that vestige. Thus,another aspect of the method of this invention entails pre-molding thering in a manner to ensure that any vestige of the molding gate used tomold the ring is located on the bottom edge portion of the ring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is vertical sectional view of one exemplary insulated drinkingvessel, e.g., a wine glass, constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the ring componentmaking up the top portion of the wine glass shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a more enlarged sectional view of the top portion of the wineglass shown during one step in the making thereof pursuant to a methodof this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing thetop portion of the wine glass at a further step in the method of makingthe wine glass;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion of the wine glassshown within the circle designated as 5 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one exemplary method in accordance withthis invention for making an insulated vessel, such as the wine shown inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein likereference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at 20 in FIG. 1one exemplary embodiment of an insulated drinking vessel, e.g., astemmed wine glass, constructed in accordance with this invention. Thewine glass 20 basically comprises an outer vessel 22, an inner vessel24, and a ring 26. The outer vessel 22 is an integral unit that ispre-molded of any suitable transparent plastic material, e.g., EastmanTritan™ copolyester sold by Eastman Chemical Company. By pre-molded itis meant that the component is made prior to its use in the assembly ofthe insulated vessel 20. The ring 26 is also a pre-molded componentwhich forms the lip or rim of the wine glass 20 and includes a bottomsurface 26A (FIG. 2). Any suitable conventional molding technique, e.g.,blow molding, injection molding, etc., can be used to form the outervessel and the ring, although injection molding is preferred. Unlike theouter vessel and the ring, the inner vessel is not a pre-moldedcomponent. Rather, as will be described in detail later, it is moldedin-situ onto the bottom surface 26A of the ring 26 to form asubassembly, which is then welded to the outer vessel to complete theassembly of the wine glass 20.

As is known when a component is injection molded there will be somesurface portion thereof formed by the gate of the mold. This surfaceportion will typically exhibit a somewhat dissimilar appearance from thesurface of the component not at the location of the gate, therebydetracting from the aesthetics of the molded component. Thus, in theinterest of aesthetics, it is a common practice of the prior art totreat the surface area at the location of the gate to provide the sameappearance as the remainder of the molded component.

The subject invention entails a method of making the wine glass 20 whicheffectively eliminates any vestiges of a molding gate on the ring 26without requiring a separate surface treatment. To that end, it is ofimportance from an aesthetic standpoint that if the pre-molded ring hasany vestiges e.g., protrusions, etc., of the molding gate, such vestigesbe located on the bottom end surface 26A of the ring. In the exemplaryembodiment one such vestige 26B is shown.

As mentioned above the inner vessel is molded in-situ onto the ring inaccordance with a method of this invention. That method will bedescribed in detail later and is illustrated by the block diagram ofFIG. 6. Suffice it for now to state that the pre-molded ring 26 isplaced within an injection molding machine (not shown), with a portionof the bottom surface 26A of the ring 26 facing and contiguous with thetop of a mold cavity that is shaped like the inner vessel 24. A moltenplastic material, preferably the same material as that from which thering was pre-molded, is injected under pressure into the mold cavity tofill the mold cavity and thereby form the inner vessel 24. Moreover, andquite significantly, the molten injected plastic forming the innervessel 24 also engages the exposed bottom surface of the ring to causethat surface to melt and reflow to a substantial depth, e.g., within therange of approximately 0.003 inch-0.100 inch (preferably within therange of approximately 0.030 inch-0.080) inch, whereupon the injectedplastic intermingles with the melted plastic of the ring, to form anon-superficial homogenous joint thereat, thereby integrally joining thering 26 to the in-situ molded inner vessel 24. This non-superficialhomogeneous joint eliminates any vestige 26B of the molding gate,thereby resulting in joint having an aesthetically pleasing appearance,e.g., the joint appears invisible.

Thus, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the method of thisinvention the pre-molding of the ring 26 is accomplished so thatvestige(s) the gate of the mold in which the ring is made is(are)located at the bottom surface 26A of the ring. By pre-molding the ringso that the gate is located at the undersurface 26A of the ring, nosurface treatment of the vestige 26B needs to be undertaken with thesubject invention, since the molding of the inner vessel in-situ on theundersurface of the ring will completely eliminate or obscure theresidual appearance of the gate, i.e., the plastic material at thelocation of the gate will become molten and intermingle with the plasticmaterial forming the inner vessel, thereby eliminating any vestige ofthe gate.

The mold cavity for the in-situ molding of the inner vessel can be ofany suitable thickness and height to form the inner vessel. For example,the inside diameter of the mold cavity which forms the inner vessel 24is preferably chosen to be slightly larger than the inside diameter ofthe ring, whereupon during the in-situ molding operation when pressureis applied to the plastic forming the inner vessel, the inner surface ofthe inner vessel will be flush with the inner surface of the ring 26.

Once the inner vessel has been molded in-situ on the ring, the resultingsubassembly or unit of the ring and the inner vessel is allowed to coolto the point that it can be removed from the mold cavity and insertedinto the pre-molded outer vessel, so that the inner vessel of thesubassembly is located in the bowl portion (to be described later) ofthe outer vessel, with a top edge portion of the outer vessel abutting aportion of the bottom surface or edge of the ring. That assembly canthen be brought to a welding machine, e.g., an ultrasonic weldingmachine, to weld the ring with the inner vessel to the outer vessel.

The abutting surfaces of the ring and outer vessel at which anultrasonically welded joint is to be formed are preferably profiled orshaped in such a manner to concentrate the ultrasonic energy thereat tofacilitate the formation of a good weld joint. Thus, the abuttingsurfaces of the ring and outer vessel preferably make use of aconventional interference (e.g., double shear) joint. Alternatively,those surfaces may make use of a triangular protrusion energy director(e.g., an upstanding triangular annular protrusion from one flangesurface and an planar surface on the other flange) or any otherconventional joints or profiling that are known to those skilled in theart of ultrasonic welding, to create a good ultrasonic weld joint. Inthe exemplary embodiment shown and which will be described later, theabutting surfaces are in the form of a double shear, e.g., tongue andgroove, joint.

Once the assembly of the outer vessel and the ring with its attachedinner vessel is located in the ultrasonic welding machine, its horn orsonotrode can be applied to the top edge of the ring to produce a farfield weld at the interface of the ring and the outer vessel, therebycompleting the vessel 20. The resulting vessel exhibits the sameproperties as if it had been molded as an integral unit at one time,e.g., it exhibits the same resistance to breakage or other damage at thelocation of the joints between the ring and the inner and outer vesselsas remainder of the unit.

The details of the exemplary wine glass 20 will now be described. Thus,as best seen in FIG. 1, the outer vessel includes a bowl shaped portion28, a stem 30 and a flanged base 32. The bowl shaped portion 28 has asidewall 34 that is a surface of revolution and can be of any desiredshape. In the exemplary embodiment it is shown as being arcuate. Theinner vessel 24 is generally bowl shaped and includes an arcuatesidewall 36. The sidewall 36 is also a surface of revolution and can beof any desired shape. In the exemplary embodiment it is also arcuate. Asbest seen in FIGS. 2-4, the upper end of the sidewall 36 is in the formof an outwardly directed annular flange 40.

As mentioned above the abutting surfaces of the ring and outer vessel atwhich the ultrasonic joint is to be formed are preferably in the form ofa double shear, e.g., tongue and groove, interference joint. To thatend, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top edge or upper surface 42 ofthe sidewall 34 of the outer vessel 22 includes an annular wall 44projecting upward therefrom. The annular wall 44 is chamfered at thepoint where it merges with the top surface 42 and forms the tongue ofthe tongue and groove joint. The height of the annular walls ispreferably within the range of 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch (and mostpreferably 0.04 inch). The thickness of the annular wall is preferablywithin the range of 0.025 inch to 0.05 inch (and most preferably 0.040inch). The annular wall or tongue 44 is arranged to be disposed within acorrespondingly shaped groove to form the tongue and groove interferencejoint. That groove is in the form of an annular recess 46 located in theportion 42 of the planar bottom surface 26A of the ring 26. The annularrecess 46 is correspondingly shaped to the annular wall 44 and includesa chamfered entryway contiguous with the undersurface portion 42.

While not preferable, the tongue and groove interference joint canalternatively be formed by having the annular groove 46 in the top edgeof the outer vessel 22 and the annular wall 44 project downward from theundersurface portion 42 of the ring 26. In fact, as mentioned above theabutting surfaces of the ring and the outer vessel may include otherfeatures or profiles to concentrate the ultrasonic welding energythereat in lieu of the exemplary tongue and groove joint.

The welding of the ring to the outer vessel is accomplished by placingthe horn or sonotrode of an ultrasonic welding device onto the topsurface 48 of the ring 26 to focus and direct the ultrasonic energy tothe engaging surfaces of the annular wall 44 and annular recess 46.Since the ring has a height of up to approximately 1 inch the weldproduced is constitutes what could be called a “far-field” weld. Duringthe welding operation, the annular wall 44 melts and flows into theannular recess 46 to form a strong welded joint therebetween, like shownin FIG. 5.

When the ring 26 with the inner vessel 24 is welded to the outer vesselas just described the outer surface of the sidewall 36 of the innervessel 24 is spaced from the inner surface of the sidewall 34 of theouter vessel 22 to form an insulating air space 50 therebetween. Ifdesired, an optional, decorative item, e.g., a wrap, an embroideredemblem or patch, etc., (not shown) can be disposed in the air spaceprior to the welding of the components to provide enhanced aestheticsfor the vessel 20. Irrespective of the construction of the decorativeitem, since it is disposed within the air space 50 and the sidewall ofthe outer vessel 22 is transparent, it will be visible through thetransparent sidewall to provide enhanced aesthetics to the insulatedvessel 20. Moreover, in the interest of aesthetics, the material formingthe ring 26 may be colored to accentuate the rim and to coordinate withthe ornamentation provided by the decorative item with in the insulatedair space. For example, the decorative item within the air space may bea wrap or embroidered patch bearing a college logo in the college'scolors, with the ring being colored to match one of the college's colorsfor emphasis.

If the insulated vessel is something other than a wine glass, e.g., is abottle, a helical thread may be provided on the outer surface of thering 26 to accommodate a threaded cap or lid for the insulated vessel.To that end, the mold cavity in which the ring is pre-molded may includehelical thread forming portion contiguous with the portion of the cavityforming the outer surface of the ring. Alternatively, the ring may beformed with an internal helical thread for a cap or lid. In such a case,the mold cavity may include helical thread forming portion contiguouswith the portion of the cavity forming the inner surface of the ring.Other features can be molded into the ring during its formation, e.g.,the top edge of the ring may include a portion of elevated height toform an enlarged lip for facilitating the drinking of a beverage fromthe vessel. A straw holder, not shown, may also be formed in the ring asthe ring is molded.

As mentioned above the method of making the insulated wine glass 20 (orany other double walled insulated drinking vessel constructed inaccordance with this invention) constitutes another aspect of thisinvention. To that end, as best seen in FIG. 6, the method entailsproviding a pre-molded ring formed of a plastic material. That ring isconstructed as discussed earlier. The ring is inserted into theinjection molding machine so that it is at the top of the injectionmolding machine's cavity for forming the inner vessel with its bottomsurface 26A contiguous with the portion of the mold cavity for formingthe inner vessel. The geometry of the molding machine cavity is suchthat a leak proof seal is created inside the cavity when the mold isclosed. This is accomplished by making the portion of the cavity thatthe ring is nested in of a smaller diameter by at least 0.004 inch thanthe inner diameter of the portion of the cavity forming the innersurface of the inner vessel. Moreover, it is desirable to have the moldcavity produce a land length of at least 0.060 inch.

The inner vessel is then molded in-situ on the bottom edge portion ofthe pre-molded ring, whereupon the heat and pressure applied causes theplastic material forming the inner vessel to fuse together andintermingle with the re-flow (melted) plastic material of the ring toform a non-superficial homogenous joint and with the inner vessel havingan inner surface that is flush with the inner surface of the ringvessel. Moreover, the gating of the inner vessel should be placed insuch a way as to give maximum heat to the re-flow area. Thus, it ispreferably located as close to the inner re-flow area as possible. Theparameters of the injection molding process are set in a way to createenough shear heat to re-flow the top surface of the inner vessel to formthe non-superficial homogeneous joint. For example, in accordance withone exemplary process of this invention, barrel heats are set to a rangebetween 530-560 degrees F. and pack and hold cavity pressures arebetween approximately 10,000 PSI to 12,000 PSI.

After the in-situ molding process is complete, the assembled unit orsubassembly of the ring and inner vessel is allowed to cool within theinjection molding machine until the molten plastic has solidifiedsufficiently that the subassembly can be removed to be welded to theouter vessel. To that end, the inner vessel 24 of the subassembly isplaced within the interior of the bowl shaped portion 28 of the outervessel, such that the annular wall 44 of the outer vessel is juxtaposedopposite the annular groove 46 in the undersurface 42 of the ring 26 asshown in FIG. 4. Those surfaces can then be brought into abutment witheach other with the sonotrode of the ultrasonic welding machine engagingthe top free edge or surface 48 of the ring 26 to apply pressure theretoand to focus and direct ultrasonic energy therefrom through the heightof the ring to the engaging surfaces of the annular wall 44 and annularrecess 46, to cause those surface to melt and fuse to form a good jointlike shown in FIG. 5. That action completes the vessel 20. Anothervessel can then be made in a similar manner as just described.

It should be pointed out at this juncture that the structure of theinsulated drinking vessel and method or making it as described above aremerely exemplary of various structures and methods that are contemplatedby this invention. Thus, for example, the insulated vessel 20 of thisinvention is not limited to wine glasses, but may be in the form ofmugs, tumblers, bottles, etc. Moreover, the sidewall portions of thevessels may be of other shapes and sizes than that shown in the drawing.What is important is that the upper rim of the vessel is formed by apre-mold ring and that the inner vessel is molded in-situ on thepre-molded ring to produce a thin upper lip or rim formed of a singlesidewall, while a substantial portion of the remainder of the insulatedvessel below the ring is insulated via a double wall construction.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate ourinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.

We claim:
 1. An insulated drinking vessel comprising: an outer vesselcomprising a separate pre-molded component formed of a plastic materialand having a top edge portion; a ring forming the lip of said drinkingvessel and comprising a separate pre-molded component formed of aplastic material and having a bottom edge portion which may include avestige of a molding gate used to form said ring; and an inner vesselcomprising a plastic material that is molded in-situ on said bottom edgeportion of said ring to cause the plastic material of said inner vesselto fuse together and intermingle with said plastic material of said ringto form a non-superficial homogenous joint, said non-superficialhomogenous joint eliminating the visible appearance of said vestige ifsaid ring had included said vestige, said top edge portion of said outervessel being fixedly secured to said bottom edge portion of said ring bya welded joint.
 2. The insulated drinking vessel of claim 1 wherein saidplastic material of said inner vessel, said outer vessel and said ringis the same plastic material.
 3. The insulated drinking vessel of claim2 wherein said plastic material comprises copolyester.
 4. An insulateddrinking vessel comprising: an outer vessel comprising a separatepre-molded component formed of a plastic material and having a top edgeportion; a ring forming the lip of said drinking vessel and comprising aseparate pre-molded component formed of a plastic material and having abottom edge portion which may include a vestige of a molding gate usedto form said ring; and an inner vessel comprising a plastic materialthat is molded in-situ on said bottom edge portion of said ring to causethe plastic material of said inner vessel to fuse together andintermingle with said plastic material of said ring to form anon-superficial homogenous joint, said non-superficial homogenous jointeliminating the visible appearance of said vestige if said ring hadincluded said vestige, said top edge portion of said outer vessel beingfixedly secured to said bottom edge portion of said ring by a weldedjoint, said welded joint comprising an annular projection located withinan annular recess.
 5. The insulated drinking vessel of claim 1 whereinsaid inner vessel, said outer vessel and said ring are transparent. 6.An insulated drinking vessel comprising: an outer vessel comprising aseparate pre-molded component formed of a plastic material and having atop edge portion; a ring forming the lip of said drinking vessel andcomprising a separate pre-molded component formed of a plastic materialand having a bottom edge portion which may include a vestige of amolding gate used to form said ring; and an inner vessel comprising aplastic material that is molded in-situ on said bottom edge portion ofsaid ring to cause the plastic material of said inner vessel to fusetogether and intermingle with said plastic material of said ring to forma non-superficial homogenous joint, said non-superficial homogenousjoint eliminating the visible appearance of said vestige if said ringhad included said vestige, said top edge portion of said outer vesselbeing fixedly secured to said bottom edge portion of said ring by awelded joint, wherein said inner vessel and said outer vessel aretransparent and wherein said ring is colored.
 7. The insulated drinkingvessel of claim 1 wherein said inner vessel includes a sidewall andwherein said outer vessel comprises a sidewall, and wherein portions ofsaid sidewall of said inner vessel are spaced from portions of saidsidewall of said outer vessel to form an insulating air spacetherebetween.
 8. The insulating drinking vessel of claim 1 wherein saidwelded joint comprises a far-field ultrasonically welded joint.
 9. Theinsulating drinking vessel of claim 5 wherein said welded jointcomprises a far-field ultrasonically welded joint.
 10. A method formaking an insulated drinking vessel comprising: a) providing an outervessel pre-molded of a plastic material and having a top edge portion;b) providing a ring pre-molded of a plastic material and having a bottomedge portion; c) molding an inner vessel of a plastic material in-situon said bottom edge portion of said ring to cause the plastic materialthereof to fuse together and intermingle with said plastic material ofsaid ring to form a non-superficial homogenous joint at a bottom edgeportion of said ring; and c) fixedly securing said top edge portion ofsaid outer vessel to a bottom edge portion of said ring by a weld joint.11. The method of claim 10 wherein said bottom edge portion of said ringincludes a vestige of a molding gate used to form said ring and whereinthe formation of said homogenous joint eliminates the visible appearanceof said vestige.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said methodcomprises molding said ring in a manner to ensure that any vestige ofthe molding gate used to mold said ring is located on the bottom edgeportion of said ring.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said plasticmaterial of said inner vessel, said outer vessel and said ring is thesame plastic material.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said plasticmaterial comprises copolyester.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein saidweld joint comprises an annular projection located within an annularrecess.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein said inner vessel, said outervessel and said ring are transparent.
 17. The method of claim 11 whereinsaid inner vessel and said outer vessel are transparent and wherein saidring is colored.
 18. The method of claim 11 wherein said inner vesselincludes a sidewall and wherein said outer vessel comprises a sidewall,and wherein portions of said sidewall of said inner vessel are spacedfrom portions of said sidewall of said outer vessel to form aninsulating air space therebetween when said inner vessel is disposedwithin said outer vessel.
 19. The method of claim 18 additionallycomprising disposing a decorative item within said insulating air space.20. The method of claim 11 wherein said weld joint comprises a far-fieldultrasonically welded joint.
 21. The insulated drinking vessel of claim1 wherein said inner vessel and said outer vessel are transparent andwherein said ring is colored.
 22. The insulating drinking vessel ofclaim 4 wherein said welded joint comprises a far-field ultrasonicallywelded joint.
 23. The insulated drinking vessel of claim 4 wherein saidinner vessel, said outer vessel and said ring are transparent.